I think I'm having the same problems. First, Apache service just didn't started because port 80 was being used by "system", so I changed it to 81. Then, when I start Apache service it just give me following error:

I'm having quite the reverse on this, I am trying to stop Apache (so I can restart this) as I think it connected with another problem I am having, in that I can't for some reason create a new database for a test project, same error code 5, but the error code in phpMyAdmin is #1044 saying that I can't create a database

2. Look through the list until you find the Apache service. Right-click on the Apache service item and select Properties. Take note of the the name of the service (in my case, Apache2.4). (As an aside, also have a look at the path to the executable. In my case, the path was incorrect: it was the path to the version of Apache I had installed yesterday.)

3. Close the Management Console.

4. From the Command Prompt type the following code, using the name you obtained at Step 2 above. In my case it was Apache2.4 but might be different for you. This will delete the service.

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting here but, since I spent time using your suggestions to resolve the access violation errors that began showing up on my Windows 7 Pro 64-bit installation of Xampp, I thought I would return to tell you what was causing the problem for me.

I had installed Malwarebytes software a few days before the access violation errors started. After trying everything suggested here to no avail, I uninstalled Malwarebytes and the problem has disappeared. The conflict does not occur on either of my Windows XP (Pro and Home) machines but it sure seems to be present on Windows 7.

Maybe this is relevant to the problems others are having and maybe it isn't but, if it helps anyone, then the information is here.

If I do not use the apache service it works fine, but as soon as the servcie is installed I got "Access violation" in Xampp-Control.exe after getting a return code 5 from the service manager.I guess xampp does check for this type of this error. ?? This should explain why its fails also.

To make sure everything comes from Apache I tried to start its service manually. I got Error code 5 Access is denied. I did many tries. The last one was :1. Uninstall the Apache service2. Remove all files from the prefetch sub-folder of the Windows folder3. Check all services to be sure there is no other Apache service3. Stop all applications4) restart Windows.

That had had absolutely no effect.

I'm wondering if it is not related to the Windows security ? I am the administrator of my System (in fact I am the only user). My System is Vista (32 bits) home edition. And I don't have any firewall activated. I had no problem at all with the previous version of Xampp (Apache2.2).

For the moment it is not very critical because I can run Apache without the service. But I'd like to understand the reason. So, any good advice or help would be very welcome.